title: Primary treatment for cleft lip and/or cleft palate in children in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate current trends in primary treatment for children with cleft lip and/or cleft palate in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationwide, retrospective study under the direction of the Academic Survey Committee of the Japanese Cleft Palate Association based on analysis of data obtained via a booklet-style questionnaire completed by institutions providing primary treatment for cleft lip and/or palate patients. PARTICIPANTS, PATIENTS: Patients were 4349 children undergoing primary repair for cleft lip and/or palate at 107 participating institutions between 1996 and 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cleft type, laterality; use of infant palatal plate; and timing and technique of primary repair for cleft lip and/or palate were evaluated by cleft surgeons at 107 participating institutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 2874 patients with cleft lip and palate or cleft palate only, infant palatal plates were used with 1087 (37.8%) and were not used with 1787 (62.2%). Primary unilateral lip repair was performed at the age of 2 to 6 months in more than 90% of patients. Bilateral cleft lip was treated by one-stage repair in 285 patients (44.5%) and by two-stage repair in 258 (40.2%). Primary one-stage palatal repair was performed in 2212 (76.9%) and two-stage palatal repair in 262 (9.1%) cleft palate patients. Information on treatment of the remaining 400 (14%) patients was unavailable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation clarified current trends in primary treatment for cleft lip and/or palate in Japan. The results suggest the need for an increase in regional core hospitals and greater variation in treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2, Masago, Mihama-Ku, Chiba, 261-8502 Japan.  uchiyama@tdc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Susami
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kochi
authors.forename: Shigehiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Ritsuo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tachimura
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibui
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michi
authors.forename: Juntaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Yuiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies